Speed Pressure: IWSG & ROW80

The  Insecure Writer's Support Group  (#IWSG) is a wonderful group put together by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh (which now has an equally cool Facebook group ). 

The first Wednesday of each month is the perfect opportunity to share my insecurities on the #IWSG therapy couch, get encouragement and support about such insecurities, and to read how other writers are faring. 

I missed May's IWSG post, but for a totally legit reason... it was Release Day for my third book, and second in my planned trilogy, Chasing Shadows. Can I hear a WOOT?

With each book, I grow in confidence and learn something. Conversely, with each one, I realize how much more I could be doing. First on the list, write faster.

I wish I could pump out a book every few months like some authors. After all, they say the best marketing for your previous books is a new book. I believe it. Sales for Chasing Memories, book 1, have gone up since Chasing Shadows came out.

** Oh, and I've sold five times as many copies of Chasing Shadows in the first month of release (actually just shy) than Chasing Memories. **

The bad news... I published my three books in September 2010, May 2013, and May 2014 respectively. Not fast enough, although I'm getting faster.

No matter how hard I try, I have a process that doesn't lend itself to speed. First, I think on a book several months (scribbling notes and general ideas). Then, I write it. This part does go quickly. Both CS and CM were written during NaNo. 

After writing it, I have to walk away for at least a month. In the case of CS and CM, I didn't look at it again until January. Then, I edited it a few times before I sent it to my rocking editor (Love you, Jo!). We do two good edits. Oh, and let's not forget beta readers. 

My goal is to publish Chasing Forgiveness, a companion novella, and Chasing Destiny, final book, before the end of the year. Neither is written. *sigh*

What's an author to do to increase speed without sacrificing quality*?

* Therein lies the rub. I fear speed will result in decreased quality, at least for the way I process things.